Content area
Full Text
Many large privately held companies in metro Detroit are predicting 2000 will be an even better year for sales growth than 1999.
Growth is coming from a variety of sources: some companies have signed major contracts, some are growing through acquisition or by winning new business from existing customers.
In construction, business is so good that the main challenge for some companies isn't finding new projects it's recruiting workers.
"It's relatively full employment in the construction field, and yet for the most part ... they have been able to meet most of the deadlines of the tremendous demand," said William Bassitt, senior vice president of economic development for the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Bassitt also is executive director of the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership - a nine county partnership that hosts trade shows and promotes Southeast Michigan as a place for businesses to locate.
Despite the labor crunch, John Rakolta Jr., chairman and CEO of Detroit-based Walbridge Aldinger Co., projects a 7 percent growth rate for his company.
"What's been nice in the last year is a lot of that work has happened in Southeast Michigan as opposed to going to going to other parts of the world," Rakolta said.
About 60 percent of Walbridge Aldinger's work is done for companies based in Michigan. The company's revenue increased to $775 million in 1999 from $675 million in 1998.
Builders...